Patty Koontz:  

Life Well,here goes! I think I will back up to childhood. I grew up in the boonies near my grandparents farm. I loved roaming the woods, and riding my pony/horse. My little sister joined the picture when I was 7. I was happy being the only child, but now wouldn't trade her for the world. I attended Forest Hills until 1977, when the flood hit. We moved to Indian Lake, where we owned a small wooded lot. I was NOT happy about moving, or going to a new school. But I endured, and tried my best. For reasons still unknown to me, I was an outcast. I tried to fit in, but never did. My parents were going through a mess, so I was even more unhappy. I do miss water skiing though. After graduation, we moved to Schellsburg. My parents divorced & mom remarried. I attended UPJ for four years starting in engineering and changing to psychology (not too smart). I graduated with a BS (!) degree with two minors. College was a blast...some of it's a blur, but well worth it. I worked at the Ship Hotel during the summers. After college I got involved with an abusive man and had a tough time crawling out of that hole. Took almost three years, but I did it. After college it was hard to find a good job, so I stuck with food service, catering, and bartending until 1988 (and sporatically throughout the years for fun), when I landed my first career position at Children and Youth in Cambria County. I stayed there eight years and hated most of them. My father died in 1989 in a violent car crash in Florida. That was so hard to handle, especially amidst the abuse I was suffering. I think it was the turning point though, and after some serious bereavement counseling, a Manic-Depression diagnosis (Now called Bipolar), I was able to dump the asshole and get on with my life. I decided that I wasn't going to get serious with anyone until I could get myself back on track. I sporatically dated and threw myself into work, family, and shooting (Civil War) blackpowder competitively. I finally learne...Expand for more